AUTHORITIES arrested on Saturday, May 19, a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who was allegedly involved in the raid of a plantation 16 years ago in Basilan province.

Hadji Gahis Attika, a resident of Sumisip town, was arrested at around 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the village of Recodo, Zamboanga City based on a warrant of arrest for six counts of kidnapping issued by the court of Isabela City.

Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said Attika’s warrant of arrest stemmed from his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of 15 workers of the Golden Harvest Plantation on June 11, 2001 in the village of Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan.

Five of the 15 workers were beheaded by the bandits while the remaining 10 either escaped or were rescued by pursuing military forces.

Galvez said Attika is part of the group led by slain ASG leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was killed on October 16, 2017 in Marawi City. (SunStar Philippines)